Herefordshire has shown solidarity with voices from local governments across Europe calling for peace in Ukraine as Russian weaponry targets local communities, destroying social infrastructure.
While local authorities urgently prepare for an influx of refugees, Coalition Coun Liz Harvey joined 230 mayors and council leaders from across Europe for a ‘Local Governments Unite for Welfare and Peace International Marathon’ group call.
‘We heard live and first hand from the mayors of Kyiv, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Chernihiv, and Mariupol about the impact on their communities and the devastation being caused by the Russian army while bombs and rockets continued to fall on their cities,’ said Coun Harvey.
‘As a past member of the UK delegation to the Congress of Europe I have worked with these civic leaders, and their predecessors, and alongside the many representatives of regions and cities across Europe we all offered words of support and many material forms of assistance to the communities of Ukraine resisting Russian forces, and to the millions of people fleeing the country to find refuge across Europe.’
Ukraine’s social infrastructure has been directly targeted since the war began. Facilities supporting local communities have been destroyed, including 117 hospitals and 5 maternity hospitals, 400 schools and kindergartens. Water, gas, electricity and food supplies have been cut off and entire towns and villages have been razed to the ground as millions of Ukrainians have fled their homes. Help from around the world is providing medicines, food, and warm clothing for those that have faced the horrors of this war.
Local government leaders around the world have been shocked by the reports of crimes committed by the Russian army in Ukraine. Serhiy Orlov, Deputy Mayor of Mariupol — a city encircled by Russians on land and sea — described the catastrophic situation: ‘Up to 100 bombs are being dropped on Mariupol every day. 90 per cent of the city are in ruins! More than three thousand peaceful civilians have been killed. We are being killed like Hiroshima — not quickly, by a single explosion, but slowly, every day. One bomb every 15 minutes! This is not a war, this is genocide; moreover, 45 per cent of the city’s population are ethnic Russians!’
Speaking on behalf of European local governments, Claudia Luciani, Director of the Directorate of Human Dignity, Equality and Governance, Council of Europe, expressed her admiration for the courage displayed by Ukrainians, saying: ‘Local communities play a crucial role in the Ukrainian resistance during the war.’
Following the call, Coun Liz Harvey said: ‘Here in Herefordshire we continue to support a wide range of community initiatives to raise funds for refugees and to provide emergency aid. Further information can be found on the council’s website here: https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/news/article/1312/a-statement-of-support-on-ukraine where you can also register to provide accommodation for refugees under the government’s ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme.’
‘Herefordshire Council’s Research Team have published an analysis of data given early release from the 2021 Census on the Understanding Herefordshire website (https://understanding.herefordshire.gov.uk/media/2057/population-data-to-support-herefordshire-s-response-to-the-ukraine-conflict-v10.pdf) to assist the council and its partners to support local families and further tailor the county’s response to this emerging crisis.’
The conference call was simultaneously translated in Ukranian, English and French and a recording can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1317289215419730.
